Journal box



Dec- 12, 1950 A. o. BUCKIUS EIAL 2,533,917

JOURNAL BOX Filed May 21, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Albert 0. Buckius ATTOR'N Y Dec. 12, 1950 A. o. BUCKIUS ETAL 2,533,917

JOURNAL BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21. 1947 INVENTORS Albert 0. Buckt'ui Patented Dec. 12, 1950- JOURNAL Box Albert Oliver Buckius, Cleveland, and Donald Willison, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignors to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 21, 1947., .Serial No. 749,542

13 Claims. 01. 308-41) This invention relates to railway journal boxes and more particularly to resilient thrust receiving means for cushioning relative longitudinal movement between the journal and the box.

An object of our invention is to provide a novel resilient journal end stop within a journal box for cushioning relative longitudinal movement between the associated journal and the box.

Another object is to provide in a journal box a resilient journal end stop which is simple and effective in cushioning end thrusts of the associated journal relative to the box.

A further object is to provide a thrust receiving member for a journal utilizing resilient material such as rubber for cushioning end thrusts of the journal and having other spring means for maintaining the member pro-loaded while in neutral position to avoid any looseness of the parts as would cause noise while the car is in motion.

A more specific object is to provide resilient thrust receiving means within a journal box comprising a thrust receiving member cushioned in both directions longitudinally of the journal.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in horizontal section showing an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a journal box of conventional design'having an opening 1 l in the outer end thereof adapted to be closed with the usual type of lid (not shown) mounted on the hinge pin lug l2. Extending into box 10 is the journal l4 having a collar 15. Mounted on the journal is the bearing or brass I6 and interposed between the brass and the top I! of the box is the wedge 53. The'box is provided with a stop l9 adapted for engagement with the end portion of wedge it to limit relative movement therebetween.

Positioned opposite the end of journal l4 and spaced from end surface 2| thereof is the thrust receiving member 22 adapted for engagement with the journal upon relative movement between the journal and the box in a longitudinal direction. Member 22 is generally rectangular in shape and has an abutment wall 23 and an outwardly extending annular flange 24 forming a pocket 25 ior receiving a circular pad 2s, made end surface 2| of the journal is the thrust .receiving surface 2'! provided by the anti-friction metal insert 28 in member 22. Ihis insert may be of babbitt or bronze secured to wall 23 in any convenient manner. Extending from wall 23 into pocket 2 5 is the centrally positioned boss 3i which is received in opening 32 of pad 26.

Engaging the outer side of pad 25 is an abutment plate 33 which bears against the transversely extending key 34 and is thereby limited from movement outwardly of the box. Kev is received in openings 35 in sidewalls 36 of the journal box, and a filler plug 31 extending into each opening 35, adjacent the key, maintains the latter in fixed relation to the box. Plug- 31 comprises a cover plate 38 which seals opening 35. Bolts 35 secure the cover plateto the box. The specific size and shape of openings 35 shown are similar to those in existing journal boxes in service, and filler lug 31 therefore permits application of the invention to those boxes. However, it will be understood that openings 35 need only be of such size and shape required to receive key 34, thereby dispensing with the necessity of using a-filler plug. Plate 33 is generally circular in shape corresponding to pad 26 and is provided with trans-'- versely extending portions 40 which are approximately the same vertical dimension as'hey'fl i and terminate adjacent walls 36.

.At each end of thrust member 22 adjacent side walls 36 is a forwardly extending strap '45 which encircles key 34 and portions 43 of plate 33; It will be observed that clearances, as at and 41., exist between the inner surfaces of the strap and portion 40 and key 34. This allows outward movement of the thrust member to compress rubber pad 26 and also permits application of leaf spring 50 between key '34 and portions 5! of straps 45.

Spring 50 which is partially unflexed during assembly, serves to preloacl rubber pad 26, thereby avoiding any looseness of the parts, when member 22 is in neutral position, as might otherwise exist in service and cause undesired noise and wear of the parts. This preloading of pad 26 also maintains the member in correct operating position with thrust surface 21 vertical. Spring 50 also acts as a snubber to preclude sudden inward movement of member 22 due to the expansion of the rubber following a thrust thereagainst by the journal. As member 22 moves outwardly of the box, spring 58 flexes to return to its normal curvature before assembly so that its ends remain in contact with straps 45 while its of rubber or similar resilient material. -F ac ing as central portion engageskey 34. Spring therefore maintains itself tightly between key 34 and straps 45, and will act instantly to oppose inward rebound of member 22 following the thrust by the journal. Thus it will be seen that both outward and inward movement ofthrust member 22 relative to the box is cushioned.

A pair of pockets 55 for collecting oil to lubricate thrust surfaces 2! and 21 are provided in the upper portion of member 22. These pockets are formed by abutment wall 23, annular flange 24, transverse vertical wall 56 and end walls 51 and communicate with an oil distributing groove 58 in thrust surface 2'! by means of inclined passages 59. In operation oil from the reservoir in the lower portion of the box is thrown onto the upper portion of the box and then drops into the pockets. Preferably the pockets are filled to the level of passages 59 when the thrust unit is put in service so that there will be a constant feeding of oil to the thrust surfaces.

Inner surfaces 60 and 6| of flange 24 and boss 3|, respectively, are flared so as to provide room for expansion of the rubber as it is compressed in operation between thrust member 22 and abutment plate 33. The rubber is partially confined by the flared surfaces as it is compressed, thereby increasing its load carrying properties as the compression is increased further. Preferably the rubber has a plate 65 to which it is vulcanized or otherwise bonded. However, if desired, rubber block 26 may be bonded directly to abutment plate 33. An opening 66 in member 22 is provided to permit air to exhaust from open ng 32 in pad 26 as the latter expands in response to end thrusts by the journal.

To protect rubber pad 26 from damage by heavy end thrusts by the journal, member 22 is provided with stop surfaces 68 which are adapted to engage portions 40 of plate 33.

From the above descrip ion of our invention it will be seen that the thrust receiving means effectively cushions endwise movement of the journal in a direction outwardly of the box. Furthermore it is silent in operation because the parts thereof are maintained in ti ht relationship when in neutral position by the auxiliary spring 50. The terms and expressions which we have employed are used as terms of descri tion and not of limitation, and we have no intent on, in the use of such terms and ex ressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scone of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a thrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to engage therew th upon movement of said journal in a direction outwardly of the box, abutment means in thrust receiving relation to said member and having end portions engaging the box, a resilient pad interposed between said member and said abutment means for cushioning outward movement of said member and other resilient means interposed between said member and said abutment means for cushioning inward movement of said member.

2. In a journal box a journal extending therein, athrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to engage therewith upon movement of said journal in a direction out wardly of the box, abutment means adjacent said member, said member having outwardly extending means at the sides thereof for mounting said member on said abutment means, and a resilient pad interposed between said member and said abutment means for cushioning outward movement of said member.

3. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a thrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to engage therewith upon movement of said journal in a direction outwardly of the box, transversely extending abutment means adjacent said member having its ends secured in the sides of the box, said member having strap means for mounting said member on said abutment means for movement relative thereto, and a resilient pad interposed between said member said abutment means for cushioning outward movement of said member, and spring means between said member and said abutment means for maintaining said pad under compression and for cushioning inward movement of said member after receiving a thrust by said journal.

4. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a thrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to engage therewith upon movement of said journal in a direction outwardly of the .box, abutment means adjacent said member, said member having a pocket portion facing said abutment means, a resilient pad in said pocket portion and engaging said abutment means, and resilient means engaging said member and abutment means for maintaining said pad under predetermined compression, and fr-r cushioning movement of said member inwardly of the box following a thrust by said journal.

5. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a transversely extending abutment member mounted in the sides of the box, a plate member engaging the inner side of said abutment memher, a thrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to be engaged thereby upon movement of said journal outwardly of the box, a resilient pad interposed between said thrust receiving member and said plate member, and resilient means reacting against said abutment member and said thrust receiving member for maintaining said pad under predetermined compression.

6. A thrust receiving member for cushioning end thrusts of a journal comprising a thrust receiving portion, a pocket portion for receiving a resilient pad, and strap means extending from said member for mounting said member in a journal box for movement in a direction outwardly of the box, said strap means comprising U-shaped elements for encircling an abutment member within the journal box.

7. A thrust receiving member for cushioning end thrusts of a journal comprising a thrust receiving portion, a pocket for receiving a resilient pad, means adjacent said pocket for mounting said member in a journal box on a transversely extending abutment member'therein for movement in a direction outwardly of the box against said pad, said means comprising a pair of elements encircling the abutment member.

8. A thrust receiving member for cushioning end thrusts of a journal comprising a thrust receiving portrion, a pocket on the opposite side of said portion for receiving a resilient pad, and laterally spaced means comprising a pair'ofele- 5 merits extending outwardly from said portion adapted to encircle an abutment member for mounting said thrust member in a journal box for movement relative to the box.

9. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a thrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to engage therewith upon movement of said journal outwardly of the box, a transversely extending key positioned outwardly of said member and removably secured to the box, a plate member engaging said key, a resilient pad interposed between said thrust receiving member and said plate member, means on said thrust receiving member for movably mounting said thrust receiving member on said key, and resilient means interposed between said key and said first named means for maintaining said pad under initial compression.

10. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a transversely extending key secured to the box, a thrust receiving member facing the end of said journal and adapted to receive end thrusts from. said journal, an abutment member engaging said key and positioned opposite said thrust receiving member, a resilient pad interposed between said members, strap means on said thrust receiving member for movably mounting said thrust receiving member on said key, and leaf spring means between said key and said strap means for maintaining said pad under initial compression.

11. In a journal box a journal extending therein, a transversely extending key secured to the box, a thrust receiving member mounted on said key for movement in a direction lengthwise of said journal, said member having a thrust receiving surface facing the end of said journal and adapted to engage therewith, a plate member engaging said key, a resilient pad interposed between said thrust receiving member and said plate member, and leaf spring means between Number said key and said thrust receiving member for maintaining said pad under initial compression.

12. Thrust receiving means for insertion in a railway journal box opposite the end of the associated journal, said means comprising a member for engaging the end of the journal, an abutment member adapted to be secured to the box against movement relative thereto, a resilient pad interposed between one side of said abutment member and said journal engaging mem ber, and spring means interposed between the opposite side of said abutment member and said ournal engaging member acting in opposition to said resilient pad to maintain the latter under compression.

l3. lhrust receiving means for insertion in a railway journal box opposite the end of the associated journal, said means comprising a member for engaging the end of the journal, abutment means adapted to be secured to the box against movement relative thereto, resilient means engaging the inner side of said abutment means and spring means engaging the outer side of said abutment means, said resilient means being adapted to cushion outward movement of said journal engaging member, said spring means reacting against portions of said journal engaging member to compress said resilient means between said abutment means and said journal engaging member.

ALBERT OLIVER BUCKIUS. DONALD WILLISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the his of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,273,308 Young Feb. 17, 1942 

